Guide to Skiing in Verbier

Exploring Verbier: The Village & Ski Lifts

A picture-perfect blend of Swiss charm and contemporary elegance, Verbier is more than just a ski resort—it’s a lifestyle. At its heart is Place Centrale, a bustling square lined with designer boutiques, gourmet restaurants, and lively après-ski hotspots. Luxury chalets close to the village centre include the stylish Chalet La Datcha and the impressive Chalet Dent Blanche. The village sprawls up the mountainside, offering stunning chalets with breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks. While the resort attracts celebrities and royals, its charm remains authentic, with traditional Swiss architecture blending seamlessly with modern amenities.

The Medran gondola serves as the gateway to Verbier’s legendary slopes, whisking skiers up to Les Ruinettes and beyond. Stay in Place Blanche or Basalte Penthouse to be first on the lift in the morning. From here, a seamless network of lifts connects you to key areas such as Savoleyres, a sun-drenched zone with family-friendly runs, and Mont Fort, the highest peak in the region at 3,330 metres.

For those seeking convenience, Verbier’s efficient ski lift system ensures easy access to all corners of the resort. The Savoleyres lift opens up rolling, tree-lined runs, while the Mont Fort cable car delivers thrill-seekers to some of the most exhilarating descents in the Alps. Some of the larger luxury chalets in Verbier are perched high above the village, including the expansive Alpine Estate and the indulgent Chalet Marmottiere.

Verbier Ski Area: A Playground for Every Skier

As the crown jewel of the 4 Vallées, Verbier’s ski area spans an impressive 400 kilometres of pistes, complemented by vast off-piste terrain. High-altitude skiing ensures excellent snow conditions throughout the season, while an array of slopes caters to all abilities.

The main Verbier ski slopes are served by lifts from Médran, with two gondolas ascending to Les Ruinettes. During peak periods, the lifts from here can get busy, so an alternative is to drive or take the shuttle bus to Carrefour, giving you access to the fast Mayentzet chair to Les Ruinettes. From here, you can reach the gently sunny bowl of La Chaux, a fantastic network of red runs surrounding Les Attelas and further up the mountain, Col des Gentianes and the top of Mont Fort at 3,330 metres. From Gentianes, you can head to Tortin which is the limit of the Verbier lifts. You will need a 4 Vallées pass to reach the likes of Siviez, Nendaz and Veysonnaz-Thyon.

Accessed from the northwest end of Verbier, Savoleyres is a smaller area with sunny open slopes and shadier forested runs that often go unnoticed. It is a great place to ski on low-visibility days. Bruson should also not be forgotten. Located via a gondola from Le Châble, it offers quiet scenic slopes and some fantastic off-piste terrain.

If you ski frequently in the USA, it is worth noting that Verbier is part of the Epic Pass giving you access to some of the world's top ski destinations across North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan.

Top Verbier Ski Schools

Verbier is home to some of the best ski schools in the Alps, and it is a great place to refine your technique or build confidence on the slopes. We work closely with the following ski schools and are happy to advise you on the best one for you and your group.

• Adrenaline: Offers small group and private lessons tailored to individuals or families.
• Altitude: Has English-speaking instructors and a strong reputation for personalised coaching. Offers private and group lessons as well as performance and off-piste coaching.
• Element: Specialises in high-level technical instruction, perfect for experienced skiers looking to improve their carving or mogul skiing.
• European Snowsport: Provides a premium ski school experience with hand-picked instructors.
• New Generation: offers fun, confidence-building lessons for all levels.
• Performance Verbier: Private lessons tailored to those looking for top-level ski coaching.
• Powder Extreme: The go-to choice for off-piste and freeride training.
• Warren Smith Ski Academy: Offers intensive courses focusing on biomechanics, making it ideal for serious skiers looking to improve their performance.

Where to Ski in Verbier

Beginner Slopes in Verbier

Whilst Verbier wouldn’t necessarily be a ‘go-to’ option for beginners, the resort does have accessible nursery slopes. Les Esserts is the largest beginner area in Verbier with a drag lift and magic carpets.

Situated at the top of the village, Le Rouge is another excellent nursery area with a drag lift serving two beginner-friendly slopes. The slopes here run from Carrefour down to the Brunet bus stop in the centre of Verbier. Le Rouge’s slightly steeper incline makes it the ideal next step for those who have gained confidence at Les Esserts and want to progress.

The smallest of Verbier’s nursery areas, Les Moulins features a short drag lift and a gentle 318-metre-long slope.

Once beginners feel confident on nursery slopes, La Chaux offers the next step for progression. This sunny, south-facing area provides wide, forgiving blue pistes that soften throughout the afternoon, making it an excellent location for practising turns and improving confidence.

Accessible via the Médran and La Chaux Express lift, the area is serviced by a four-man chairlift, ensuring smooth access to higher-altitude beginner-friendly terrain.

Intermediate Slopes in Verbier

There is excellent and varied intermediate terrain in Verbier with the main slopes concentrated between Attelas and the village, around Les Ruinettes and at Lac des Vaux and La Chaux. However, these slopes can get crowded so don’t rule out heading over to Savoleyres or La Tzoumaz where there are some pleasant red runs with fewer people.

Adventurous intermediates have more scope in Verbier, as travelling across the 4 Vallées often involves negotiating some trickier runs. There are some fantastic intermediate itineraries accessible from Lac des Vaux; both Val d’Arbi and Col des Mines are a great introduction to off-piste skiing.

Advanced Slopes in Verbier

For seasoned experts, the resort is a paradise of steep couloirs, mogul fields, and legendary itinerary runs like Vallon d’Arby, a pristine, unmarked route that plunges into untouched powder fields. Much of the challenging skiing centres around Mont Fort, with a steep kilometre-long, often bumpy, black run from the top down to Gentianes-Tortin. Verbier’s most challenging itinerary is Tortin with a rocky traverse and huge mogul field to navigate. Another respected line on the mountain is known as ‘Banana Couloir’, with access from the top of Mont Gele.

Freeriding in Verbier

The true magic of Verbier lies beyond the groomed runs. With some of the best freeride terrain in Europe, Verbier attracts off-piste aficionados in search of deep powder and adrenaline-pumping descents. The infamous Bec des Rosses, home to the Freeride World Tour, is a proving ground for extreme skiers, while Bruson offers incredible tree skiing and hidden powder stashes away from the crowds.

Heli-Skiing in Verbier

For those seeking the pinnacle of high-altitude adventure, Verbier’s heli-skiing experiences provide access to some of the most remote and pristine terrain in the Alps. With landing zones on Rosablanche, Petit Combin, and the Trient Glacier, skiers can carve untouched powder in breathtaking wilderness, guided by expert mountain professionals. With Switzerland’s unique regulations allowing heli-skiing in designated areas, Verbier remains one of the few European resorts where this extraordinary experience is readily available.

How to Get to Verbier

Located on the eastern side of the Val de Bagnes in the canton of Valais, the Swiss ski resort of Verbier is at the heart of the 4 Vallées. Situated on a sunny plateau in the southwest of Switzerland, Verbier is within the French-speaking part of the country close to the borders of France and Italy.

Flying to Verbier

The closest international airport to Verbier is Geneva, just 160 km away, making it the most convenient option for travellers. With frequent flights and an easy two-hour drive to the resort, Geneva remains the preferred entry point. Alternatively, Milan Malpensa (250 km) offers another viable choice, while Sion Airport (50 km)—the nearest airport—provides a shorter transfer but has limited commercial flights. However, Sion is ideal for private jets and helicopter transfers, with a swift 50-minute drive to the resort or a quick heli-transfer to Le Châble, just below Verbier.

Airport Transfers to Verbier

Private and shared transfers are readily available from Geneva, Sion, and Zurich airports. Alpine Xpress offers reliable shared and private options with modern 4x4 vehicles, while May Taxi Limousine provides a more personalised service with luxury Mercedes vehicles. For an eco-friendly option, Tesla Transfers uses zero-emission vehicles for a comfortable and sustainable ride.

Helicopter Transfers to Verbier

For those looking to maximize their time on the slopes, a heli-transfer is the fastest and most exhilarating way to reach Verbier. Heli Alps, based in Sion, offers state-of-the-art helicopters that can transport passengers to Le Châble in just 20 minutes, followed by a short drive to the resort.

Arriving at Verbier by Train

Travelling by train is both scenic and environmentally friendly. Verbier itself doesn’t have a train station, but nearby Le Châble does. From Geneva Airport, frequent trains run to Martigny in 90 minutes, followed by a short 30-minute train ride to Le Châble, where a gondola or a 15-minute road transfer takes you straight into Verbier. If arriving from Zurich or Milan, connections through Visp and Martigny take approximately 4 hours. For travellers from the UK, taking the Eurostar to Paris and then high-speed trains to Lausanne and Martigny offers a relaxing alternative to flying.

Driving to Verbier

For those who prefer to drive, Verbier is accessible via well-maintained mountain roads, but winter conditions require caution. Winter tyres and snow chains are essential, and understanding Swiss driving regulations, including tolls and vignettes is crucial. If driving from the UK, expect a nine-hour journey from Calais, with ferry or Eurotunnel options and French motorway tolls.